The Morningside College experience cultivates a passion for life-long learning and a dedication to ethical leadership and civic responsibility.

Ensembles

The music department at Morningside College offers numerous ensemble opportunities for singers and instrumentalists. All Morningside College students are welcome to participate in music ensembles regardless of major.

Instrumental Ensembles

The music department at Morningside College provides a wide range of playing opportunities for students who want to participate in instrumental ensembles. Music majors and non-majors are welcome to perform in any ensemble.

Collaborative Piano and Piano Ensemble: Qualified pianists may receive academic credit for performing collaboratively with other student musicians. This may include chamber ensembles using piano, solo accompanying, and large ensemble accompanying. Piano performance majors may use up to six credits of Collaborative Piano to meet ensemble requirements.

Fever Pep Band: The Fever Pep Band provides entertainment at all men's and women?s home basketball games. Students are selected by audition and are paid for their participation. The ensemble is student-led with faculty supervision.

Instrumental Jazz Ensemble: The Jazz Band is an academic ensemble that performs music composed in any of the jazz styles through the use of big band and combos. Jazz Band is open to any student who wishes to play jazz and improve their improvisation skills. Membership is through audition and/or recommendation.

Morningside Outdoor Band (MOB): The MOB is an athletic ensemble that performs and entertains at all Morningside College home football games. The band plays as a pep band during the game and performs a half-time show. The half-time performance is presented in "park and blow" style from the front of the field. The band performs a new themed show at each game; selections range from such classic pep band tunes as "Swing, Swing, Swing" and "Soul Man" to contemporary tunes like Louis Prima's "Jump, Jive, and Wail" as recorded by the Brian Setzer Orchestra. All students enrolled in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble perform in the MOB.

Orchestra: The Siouxland Youth Symphony consists of college string, wind, brass, and percussion players along with top high school instrumentalists of the Siouxland area. Students may also be offered paid positions in the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra, providing valuable professional work experience and additional income.

Symphonic Wind Ensemble (SWE): The SWE is Morningside College's concert band. The objective of the ensemble is to bring the finest traditional and contemporary wind literature to their audiences as well as representing Morningside College in the community. The band performs regular concerts and tours throughout the academic year. No audition is required for membership in SWE, but previous band experience is recommended, and membership may be at the discretion of the director. An audition at the beginning of each semester will be used for seating placements and for the purpose of identifying soloists. All students enrolled in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble perform in the MOB.

Wind, Brass, and Percussion Chamber Ensembles: Morningside offers chamber music opportunities as well as large ensembles, including Brass Quintet/Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble. Each performs a wide variety of literature written for their respective instrumentation. Membership in these ensembles is through audition and/or recommendation with the respective directors.

Vocal Ensembles

Students at Morningside have the opportunity to perform in The Morningside College Choir (mixed chorus), Bel Canto Singers (Women's Choir), Singing Men of Morningside, Choral Union (all choirs combined), Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Musical Theatre, and Opera Theatre. All vocal ensembles are open to all students, regardless of major.

Bel Canto Singers: This is a unique group of female singers dedicated to the performance of music composed specifically for women's voices. Repertoire is selected from the finest compositions from the Renaissance era through the present. The ensemble is open to all women on campus who love to sing. No audition is required.
Listen
:: No Thank You John ... by Rossetti/Gray

Eclectix Vocal Jazz Ensemble: Morningside’s vocal jazz ensemble, performs an eclectic mix of jazz, show, and pop tunes both a capella and with a rhythm section. They have been featured at jazz festivals, public radio broadcasts and at local events throughout the Siouxland community.Listen
:: In my Life ... by John Lennon and Paul McCartney / arr. Roger Emerson
:: True Colors ... by Bill Stenberg and Rom Kelly / arr. Deke Sharon
:: Blue Skies ... by Irving Berlin / arr. Deke Sharon

The Morningside College Choir: The Morningside College Choir is an auditioned choir of approximately 35 students which performs frequently both on campus and off. The ensemble tours every year; the most recent tour was a trip to Italy in the spring of 2012 where they performed in Rome, Venice, and Florence. In the spring of 2011, the ensemble traveled to New York City where they performed at Carnegie Hall. Other recent trips abroad include a 2008 tour in China and a tour of Eastern Europe in 2005. The Morningside College Choir regularly performs major choral/orchestral works with the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra and as part of the Morningside Choral Union. Recent performances have included the premier of John Cheetham's Gloria, Brahms' Schicksalslied, the Fauré Requiem, The Creation by Franz Joseph Haydn, Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, and Carl Orff's Carmina Burana.Listen
:: Verbum Caro Factum Est ... by Hans Leo Hassler
:: All That I Am ... by William Grant Stills
:: Ezek'ul Saw De Wheel ... arranged by William Dawson

The Morningside College Opera Theatre: Music majors and non-majors alike enjoy performing in this ensemble. Singers form small ensembles (trios, duets, etc.) to perform staged scenes from operas and operettas. Click here to see photos of recent productions.

Singing Men of Morningside: This ensemble is open to any male student at Morningside, no audition necessary. The Singing Men perform music written specifically for male choirs in all varieties of music from classical to contemporary. They also sing the national anthem at athletic events both on and off campus.
Listen
:: Alma Mater ... by Dr. Paul MacCollin
:: Who Are the Brave ... by Williams/Martin

Choral Union: is an ensemble comprising all the choral groups on campus (College Choir, Singing Men of Morningside and Bel Canto Women’s Choir). It is a large part of the annual Christmas concert entitled "Christmas at Morningside," a religious-themed concert involving many of our department's choral and instrumental ensembles. The performance has become an important tradition at the college and a must-see event for our community. Click here to see photos of recent "Christmas at Morningside" events.